What is CBD and what does it do?

Everywhere you go you see CBD or Hemp oil. It is literally everywhere! Gas stations, bodegas, liquor stores, smoke shops, spas, grocery stores. They even have stores dedicated to CBD. And I have purchased hemp/CBD at just about all of these places. But what is it exactly? We see big words like Phytocannabinoids, Cannabinoids, MCT, Endocannabinoid System. But what in the hell are these things? And why should we take them? Most products make claims like, it improves moods, helps you sleep, and overall wellness. But it still does not answer the questions how and why does it work?
I am going to break it down for you so that it is easy to understand. So let’s start at the beginning.

What is CBD? CBD or Cannabidiol (big word) naturally occurs from hemp that does not contain THC (THC is what gets you high). First discovered in the 1940s by Roger Adams, a chemistry professor at the University of Illinois. Adams separated the CBD oil from the hemp itself to study its properties and found it had many benefits.
So let’s talk about some benefits, don’t worry down below are a slew of terms that explain what all this is!

WELLNESS
Our endocannabinoid system controls our recovery and repair processes. As we age, our endocannabinoid system slows down. CBD reactivates (or stimulates) those dormant receptors, allowing our body to heal itself.

MOOD
Findings suggest that CBD engages with our serotonin receptor and using CBD to maintain the normal range functioning of our endocannabinoid system can help stabilize mood and improve mood fluctuations.
CBD promotes overall well-being and may be beneficial to:
Mild memory loss associated with normal aging
Non-cystic acne
Menstrual cramps
Mild mood changes

SLEEP
The calming effects of CBD have been shown to be helpful in reducing sleep difficulties and improving sleep quality.
Anyone else confused yet? ok let’s talk about the Endocannabinoid System!

***Endocannabinoid system***
Endocannabinoid system is active in your body and plays a role in sleep, mood, appetite, memory, reproduction and fertility. They are similar to cannabinoids but are made naturally in the body. ECS are also linked to the following processes in the body.
Appetite and digestion, metabolism, chronic pain, inflammation and other immune responses, mood, learning and memory, motor control, sleep, cardiovascular system function, muscle formation, bone remodeling and growth, liver function, reproductive system function, stress, skin and nerve function.
These functions all contribute to the homeostasis.
Example; If an outside force, such as pain from an injury or fever throws off your body’s homeostasis, your ECS kicks in to help your body return to it’s ideal operation. Maintaining homeostasis is the primary role of ECS. The belief is that CBD works by preventing the endocannabinoids from being broken down, allowing them to have more of an effect on your body.
Here are some other big strange words you will see on CBD products!

***Curcumin***
proven to have anti-inflammatory and immune-boosting properties. It is great at reducing arthritis symptoms, helps to reduce cardiovascular complications, helps to prevent and treat cancers, helps to fight off IBS, prevents and treats Alzheimer’s, helps to manage diabetes, helps to manage lung conditions such as asthma, cystic fibrosis, and lung cancer.

***Terpenes***
Terpenes are what give your CBD it’s color and Aroma

***Cannabinoids***
Cannabinoids are responsible for pain relief, nausea, anxiety, and inflammation. The reason they work is they imitate compounds our bodies naturally produce called the endocannabinoid system.

***Flavonoids*** (antioxidant)
Flavonoids are one reason fruits and vegetables are so good for you. They reduce the risk of cancer, heart disease, asthma and stroke. They also play a special role in protecting the brain. Some flavonoids have antihistamine, antimicrobial memory and even mood enhancing properties.

***MCT Oil***
MCT oil is a man made saturated fatty acid combining medium chain triglycerides from Coconut oil and Palm oil.

***Full Spectrum***
Full spectrum means that an oil or product contains all the cannabinoids that are found in the cannabis plant in nature, rather than just CBD (Cannabidiol). … The short answer is you are getting more than 100 different cannabinoids found in the hemp plant.

***Broad Spectrum***
Broad spectrum CBD is CBD that has been extracted from the cannabis plant with all of the other compounds from the plant except for THC. That means it contains terpenes, essential oils, and other cannabinoids from the plant.

How are we feeling? A little more in the know? As a Holistic healer, I love that there is an array of hemp/CBD products readily available. There are many studies out there that prove the use of hemp/CBD are doing wonders for not only people but our pets as well. I have tried many hemp/CBD products and I am on board and use it regularly. I encourage everyone to research and seek out what works for them.
I am sure this is a lot to digest! Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions. For more information on my favorite brand of CBD / Hemp click the link below!